The longer I live, the more bad news I hear. Everyone has their list of distressing things they would just as soon not have ever heard.

• You find out a trusted friend has betrayed you.
• You discover a family member has been unfaithful to his or her marriage vows.
• A friend dies in an accident.
• A loved one dies at an early age from cancer or a drug overdose.
• A friend has been falsely accused of a horrible crime and his life is turned upside down because of it.

The good news that we have trumps all the bad news this world will throw at us. We don’t always remember that. But read these words carefully: Your forgiveness and life and salvation that you have for Jesus’ sake cannot be taken away. Add these words to each of the bad news sentences above and read them again.

John 10:27–29 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

We sometimes refer to someone having a “death grip” on something, meaning they will not let it go. This passage tells us that our heavenly Father has a death defying grip on His children, and He will never let you go. That is my comfort and assurance in the face of any bad news I hear.